Independent-shutter-locking mechanism for voting-machines.



PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

/g lNIgNTOR MAE 0 I I, 1 .1 T1

. O. ABBOTT.

C INDEPENDENT SHUTTER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-1, 1907.

W/TNESSES Tu: NORRIS PETERS 00., WASHINGTDN, u. c.

No. 873,828. PATENTED 1130.17, 1907.

' o. 0. ABBOTT.

' INDEPENDENT SHUTTER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MAGHINES. APPLICATIONFILED JUNE 1, 1907. Y

2 snags-sum":

A TTORNE) THE NORRIS PETERS cm, wasnmcm v. B4 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. ABBOTT, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TRIUMPHVOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1907'.

Application filed June 1, 1907. Serial No. 376.754.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsfield, county of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts,have invented a new and useful Ind ependent-Shutter-Locking Mechanism'for Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide simple, inexpensive andpositive mechanism for locking independent voting shutters in votingmachines and for actuating the paper feeding mechanism.

With these ends in view I have devised the novel mechanism of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification:

Figure 1 is an elevation as seen from the rear illustrating my novelindependent voting mechanism, the top plate of the machine and thesupports being in section; Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 a detail elevation on anenlarged scale as seen from the front, illustrating the construction andmode of operation of the independent voting shutters; and Fig. 4 is anedge view as seen from the left in Fig. 3, the support and the shutterclosing-bar being in vertical section.

10 denotes the top plate of the machine, 11 supports for the independentvoting mechanism which are shown as made from sheet metal and as securedto the top plate, 12 the front plate and 13 the back plate.

It is sufiicient for the purposes of this specification to state that inindependent voting the voter casts his ballot for an independentcandidate by writing the name of the candidate upon a sheet of papercalled the independent voting strip, which is disclosed byopeningindependent voting shutters in the front plate. In the present instance,I have shown the invention as applied to a horizontal machine, that is,to a machine in which the party nominations are placed in horizontallines and the names of the several nominees for the offices to be votedfor are placed in vertical columns.

141 denotes independent voting apertures in the front plate which forthe convenience of voters are placed obliquely to the vertical plane.The voting apertures are closed by independent voting shutters 15, theedges of which are beveled and which slide in ways 18 on the inner sideof the front plate.

The lower end of each shutter is provided with a finger-piece l6projecting through the aperture for convenience in operation. In Fig. 3the first and third of the shutters shown are in the closed position andthe second shutter is in the open position ready for the casting of anindependent vote. The shutters are made longer than the apertures andthe upper end of each shutter is provided with an incline 17.

19 denotes a gravity pawl pivoted to the shutter near its upper end andprovided with an upwardly and rearwardly projecting tail piece 20, whichis adapted to be engaged by the shutter closing-bar 21 to close all openshutters, as will be more fully explained.

22 denotes links corresponding with the shutters, each link beingprovided with a rack 23 which is adapted to be engaged by the pawl ofthe corresponding shutter to lock the shutter in any raised position,whether wholly or partly opened. The upper ends of links 22 are providedwith forwardly extending hooks 24 which project through apertures 25 inthe front plate and extend downward and engage the outer face of thefront plate; The lower wall of each aperture 25 comprises an incline 26rising from left to right which runs into an approximately horizontalportion 27 extending toward the right. The hooks are provided withbearings 28, in the present instance cross pins, which engage theinclines and horizontal portions of the apertures in the front plate.The lower ends of links 22 are shown as curved for convenience inattachment to interlocking members 30 and as retained in position andtheir movement limited by guide-pins 29 which pass through slots 69 inthe links and are an-- chored in front plate 12 and in a longitudinalstrip 61 which is secured to the front plate, blocks 68 being interposedbetween said plate and strip.

It is sufficient for the purposes of this specification to say that thefunction of the interlocking members is to prevent the casting of aballot for more than one candidate for any of the offices to be votedfor, except, of course, in group voting which need not be considered forthe present purpose. The interlocking members are set in practice sothat one slack only can be placed in any interlocking member.

When an independent voter opens an independent voting shutter theincline 17 upon the shutter will engage the bearing 28 of the hook 24 atthe upper end of the corresponding link 22 and will cause said hook toride up the incline 26 of the corresponding aperture 25 and out upon thehorizontal portion 27. This raising of the link will take the slack outof the corresponding interlocking member so that when an independentvoting shutter has been opened the interlocking member will render itimpossible to cast a ballot for any of the candidates regularly innomination for the corresponding office. It will be noted that as soonas the opening movement of an independent voting shutter is commenced,the incline 17 thereon will at once act upon the hook 24 of the link toforce it up incline 26 of the corresponding aperture so that the slackwill be taken out of the corresponding interlocking member during thefirst portion of the movement of the shutter. Furthermore, the gravitypawl, through its engagement with the rack on the link will lock theshutter against backward movement at all stages of the opening movement;in other words, having commenced to open a shutter the independent votercannot move it back ward to the closed position. As the slack is quicklytaken out of the interlocking memher, it is impossible to cast a votefor a regular nominee in that column after manipulation of theindependent shutter. Link 22 is, of course, held against backwardmovement, as the bearing portion 28 of the hook, in the present instancethe cross pin, will rest between incline 17 on the shutter and theincline 26 .of aperture 25 during the first portion of the openingmovement of the shutter, and after incline 17 has passed incline 26 saidbearing portion ill rest against the edge of the shutter and will beprevented thereby from passing backward down incline 26. '1 he apertures25 in the front plate are shown as covered by a housing 31 which issecured to the front plate.

32 denotes an actuating bar for the paper feed clutch which lies inhousing 31 on the outer side of the front plate and rests upon asuitable support 33. 'ihis bar is provided with a series of inclines 34which are engaged by the edge of the outer portion of hooks 24, theengaging portions of the hooks being speci'fically indicated by 35. hena link 22 is raised by the opening of a shutter and the hook thereon isforced toward the right, as seen in Fig. 3, by the cooperative action ofinclines 17 and 26, the engaging portion 35 of the hook will engage thecorresponding incline 34 upon actuating bar 32 and will move said bartoward the right. It will, of course, be understood that the firstshutter opened will move the actuating bar toward the right,

and that the opening of additional shutters will have no effect upon theactuating bar, it being required that the clutch operating mechanism beactuated even if but one independent vote be cast.

36 denotes the paper feed roll, which is mounted loosely on a shaft 37which passes through housings 54 and supports 11 and is journaled inbearings 57 secured to the supports.

38 denotes a clutch member upon one end of roll 36, and 39 acorresponding clutch member on a sleeve 40 which is secured to shaft 37by a pin and slot connection, as at 66, so that it may slidelongitudinally thereon.

41 denotes a collar which is free to slide on sleeve 40 and is providedwith a lug 42 which is engaged by an incline 43 on acam-bar 44.

45 denotes a spring inclosing sleeve 40 and bearing against clutchmember 39 and against collar 41, and serving as a cushion for clutchmember 39 should the teeth meet end to end.

46 denotes a collar fixed on sleeve 40 which acts to limit the movementof collar 41 toward the left.

47 denotes a clutch lever fulcrumed in a bracket 48 secured. to one ofthe housings 54, one end of which is engaged by actuating bar 32. I haveshown the clutch lever as provided with a notch 49 which receives aslotted toe 50 at the end of the actuating bar, said toe extendinginward through an aperture 64 in the front plate. The other end of theclutch lever is provided with a yoke 51 which partly incloses collar 41and engages lugs 52 extending therefrom.

In the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, the independentshutters are all closed. When a shutter is opened actuating bar 32 ismoved from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward the left to the positionshown in Fig. 3, the effect of which is to oscillate clutch lever 47 andmove collar 41 toward the right and place clutch member 39 in engagementwith clutch member 38. The parts remain in the position just describeduntil cam-bar 44 is operated by the voter after the voting operation, aswill be more fully explained.

Shutter closing-bar 21 is shown as formed to substantially U-shape andis carried by bars 53 which reciprocate in housings 54. Bars 53 areprovided with racks 55 which are engaged by pinions 56 on shaft 37.Shaft 37 also carries a spiral gear 58 which meshes with a spiralpinion-59 on a shaft 60 which is operated by mechanism (not shown)actuated by the voter after the voting operation. Cam-bar 44 is shown aspassing through a slot in a longitudinal brace 62 which serves as aguide and support therefor.

63 denotes a backing plate contiguous to the voting apertures, overwhich the independent voting strip, indicated by 65, passes. The backingplate is secured to the inner side of the front plate, blocks 68 beinginterposedbetween said backing plate and front plate in order to providesuflicient space for the independent voting strip, the shutters andlinks 22. i

The operation is as follows: It is sufficient for the purposes of thisspecification to state that after the voting operation the voter actuates operating mechanism (not shown), the functions of which, so faras the present invention is concerned, are to return all actuated partsto the normal or non-voting position ready for the next voter. One ofthe functions of the operating mechanism is, through intermediateconnections (not shown), to impart rotation to shaft 60, which in turnrotates shaft 37 and by means of pinions 56 actuates bars 53 and movesshutter closing-bar 21 from the position shown in full lines in thedrawings to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. As the shutterclosing-bar moves downward. it engages tail pieces 20 on the gravitypawls 19 of all opened shutters, disengages said pawls from the racks onlinks 22 and permits the shutters to drop to the closed position bygravity or carries them to the closed position by its continuedmovement. The shutter closingbar also acts to lock the shutters in theclosed position until it is again raised, as will be more fullyexplained. As soon as the opened shutters have dropped downward farenough so that inclines 17 upon the shutters come into alinement withthe inclines 26 of apertures 25, the hooks 24 upon links 22 will bereleased and the weight of the interlocking members will ordinarilycause the links to drop to their normal position as at the right andleft, respectively, in Fig. 3. Should the links for any reason fail todrop downward, however, when released, engaging portions 35 of the hookswill be engaged by inclines 34 on actuating bar 32 when said bar ismoved toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 3, and saidinclines will force hooks 24 toward the left and past the inclines 26 ofapertures 25 and will cause links 22 to return to their normal ornon-voting position.

Another function of the operating mechanism and intermediate connectionswhen operated by a voter after the voting operation is to move thecambar upward from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to thedotted position in said figure, the effect of which is, through theengagement of incline 43 on the cam-bar with lug 42 on collar 41 and theengagement of collar 41 with fixed collar 46 in sleeve 40 to. move saidsleeve toward the left, as shown in Fig. 1 and disengage the clutchmembers. This movement of collar 41 to the position shown in Fig. 1 alsooscillates clutch lever 47 and returns actuating bar 32 to its normalposition. In the normal or non-voting position of the parts shutterclosing-bar 21 is at the dotted position in Fig. 4 and the cam-bar is atthe dotted position in Fig. 1, that is, the shutter closing-b ar islowered and the cam bar is raised, thereby locking the independentvoting mechanism. The unlocking of the independent voting mechanism thatis, the raising of the shutter closing-bar and the lowering of thecam-bar is effected by a movement of the operating mechanism andintermediate connections (not shown) prior to the voting operation. Atthe time the movement of shaft 37 which raises the shutter closing-bartakes place, the clutch members are necessarily disengaged and, althoughsleeve 40 and clutch member 39 are carried by the shaft, no movement isimparted to the paper feed roll. The downward movement of the cam-barfrom the dotted to the full line position in Fig. 1 releases slidingcollar 41 on sleeve 40 and permits the clutch members to be placed inengagement when a shutter is opened. If none of the shutters are openedno engagement of the clutch members will take place. Should a shutter beopened actuating bar 32 will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1toward the left and clutch member 39 will be moved into engagement withclutch member38.

Still another function performed by the movement of the operatingmechanism after the voting operation is to produce a rotary movement ofshaft 60 which is transmitted to shaft 37. If none of the shutters havebeen actuated the clutch members will not be in engagement, and nomovement of paper feed roll 36 will take place. If, however, a shutterhas been opened actuating bar 32 will be moved toward the left from theposition shown in Fig. 1, clutch member 39 will be placed in engagementwith clutch member 38 on the paper feed roll, rotary movement will beimparted to the paper feed roll and the independent voting strip will beactuated thereby and a fresh portion of its surface will be placed inposition on the backing plate for the next independent voter.

Having thus described my invention, I

- claim:

1. In a voting machine, the combination with a sliding shutter and apawl pivoted thereto, of a link provided with a hook and and an aperture25, a sliding shutter adapted to close the voting aperture and a pawlpivoted to the shutter, of a link having a hook projecting throughaperture 25 and a rack engaged by the pawl and an actuating bar havingan incline engaged by the hook, substantially as described, for thepurpose specified.

3. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture and an aperture 25 comprising an incline, a slidingshutter adapted to close the voting aperture and having an incline, anda pawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link having a hook projectingthrough aperture 25 and having a bearing and a rack engaged by the pawl,and an actuating bar having an incline engaged by the hook, the openingof the shutter causing the incline thereon to engage the bearing on thehook and cause said hook to ride up the incline of aperture 25 and thehook engaging the incline on the actuating bar and imparting movement tosaid bar.

4. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture and an aperture 25 comprising an incline 26 and aportion 27, a sliding shutter adapted to close the voting aperture and apawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link having a hook projecting throughaperture 25 and having a bearing 28, adapted to engage incline 26 andportion 27, a portion 35 and a rack engaged by the pawl, and a bar 32having an incline 34 engaged by portion 35 of the hook to ac tuate thebar when the shutter is opened.

5. In a voting machine, the combination with a sliding shutter and apawl pivoted thereto, of a link having a rack engaged by the pawl tolock the shutter against backward movement and means for disengaging thepawl and permitting the shutter to drop to the closed position.

6. In a voting machine, the combination with a sliding shutter and apawl pivoted thereto, of a link having a rack engaged by the pawl, forthe purpose set forth, and a shutter closing bar adapted to engage thepawl and disengage it from the rack and to move the shutter to theclosed position.

7. In a voting machine, the combination with a sliding shutter and apawl pivoted thereto and having a projecting tail piece, of a linkhaving a rack engaged by the pawl, for the purpose set forth, and ashutter closing bar adapted to engage the tail piece, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose speciiied.

S. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture and an aperture 25 comprising an incline, a slidingshutter adapted to close the voting aperture and a pawl pivoted to theshutter, of ,a link having a hook projecting through aperture 25 and arack engaged by the pawl and an interlocking member attached to thelink, the opening of the shutter forcing the hook up the incline ofopening 25 thereby raising the link and taking the slack out of theinterlocking member and the pawl preventing backward movement of theshutter.

9. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture, and an aperture 25 comprising an incline 26,

a sliding shutter adapted to close the voting aperture and having anincline 17 and a pawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link having a hookprojecting through aperture 25 and having a bearing and a rack engagedby the pawl, and an interlocking member attached to the link, theopening of the shutter causing incline 17 to engage the bearing andforce it up incline 26 thereby raising the link and taking the slack outof the interlocking member, substantially as described, for the purposespecified.

10. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture, a sliding shutter adapted to close said aperture and apawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link havin a rack engaged by the pawland an interloc ing member attached to the link, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

11. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture placed obliquely to a vertical line, for the purpose setforth, a sliding shutter adapted to close said aperture and a pawlpivoted to the shutter, of a link having a rack engaged by the pawl andan interlocking member attached to the link.

12. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture placed obliquely to a vertical line, a sliding shutteradapted to close said aperture and a pawl pivoted to the shutter, of alink having a rack engaged by the pawl, said link being curved at itslower end and provided with a slot, a guide pin in said slot, for thepurpose set forth, and an interlocking member attached to the link.

13. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting a erture and an aperture 25 comprising an inc ine 26, a slidingshutter adapted to close the voting aperture and having an incline 17and a pawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link having a hook projectingthrough aperture 25 and having a bearing to engage the incline, aportion 35 and a rack engaged by the pawl, an interlocking memberattached to the link and an actuating bar having an incline 34 which isengaged by portion 35 of the hook, the opening of the shutter raisingthe link and imparting movement to the actuating bar.

14. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture and an aperture 25, a sliding shutter adapted to closethe voting apertures and a pawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link havinga hook projecting through aperture 25 and a rack engaged by the pawl, aninterlocking member attached to the link and an actuating bar having anincline which is engaged by the hook when the shutter is opened.

15. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture,

ture and a pawl pivoted to the shutter, of a 'link having a rack engagedby the pawl, for

the purpose set forth, a backing plate contiguous to the voting aperturefor an independent voting strip, a paper feed roll for drawing saidstrip over the backing plate, clutch mechanism on said feed roll andmeans actuated by the opening of the shutter for placing the clutchmechanism in engagement.

16. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture and an aperture 25, a sliding shutter adapted to closethe voting aperture and a pawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link havinga rack engaged by the pawl and a hook projecting through aperture 25 andengaged by the shutter, an actuating bar having an incline engaged bythe hook when the shutter is opened, a paper feed roll, for the purposeset forth, clutch mechanism on said feed roll, and connectionsintermediate the clutch mechanism and the actuating bar whereby theclutch mechanism is placed in engagement.

17. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate having avoting aperture, and an aperture 25 comprising an incline 26, a slidingshutter adapted to close the voting aperture and having an incline 17and a pawl pivoted to the shutter, of a link having a rack engaged bythe pawl and a hook projecting through aperture 25 and having a bearingengagedby incline 17 and a portion 35, an actuating bar having anincline 34 e11- gaged by portion 35 when the shutter is opened, a paperfeed roll, for the purpose set forth, clutch mechanism on said feedroll, and connections intermediate the clutch mechanism and the actuatedbar.

18. In a voting machine, the combination with independent votingmechanism, a paper feed roll and. a shaft on which said roll is looselymounted, of a clutch member fixed to the paper feed roll, a sleeve keyedto the shaft and having longitudinal movement thereon, a clutch membercarried by said sleeve, a collar sliding on said sleeve, a buffer springbetween the clutch member and the sleeve, a lever engaging the collarfor placing the clutch members in engagement and a bar actuated by theindependent voting mechanism and engaging said lever.

19. In a voting machine, the combination with independent votingmechanism, a paper feed roll and a shaft on which said roll is looselymounted, of a clutch member fixed to the paper feed roll, a sleeve keyedto the shaft and having longitudinal movement thereon, a clutch membercarried by said sleeve, a collar 4]. sliding on said sleeve and providedwith a lug 42, a bufferspring between said collar and the clutch member,a collar 46 secured to the sleeve to limit the movement of collar 41, alever engaging collar 41 for placing the clutch members in ena ement acam-bar havin' an incline adapted to engage lug 42 to move the slidingclutch member out of engagement, and a bar actuated by the independentvoting mechanism and engaging the lever for moving the sliding clutchmember into engagement.

20. In a voting machine, the combination with independent votingmechanism, a pa er feed roll and a shaft on which said rol is looselymounted, of a clutch member fixed to the paper feed roll, a sleeve keyedto the shaft and having longitudinal movement thereon, a clutch membercarried by said sleeve, a collar sliding on said sleeve, a buffer springbetween said collar and the clutch member, a lever engaging the collarfor placing the clutch members in engagement and a bar actuated by theindependent voting mechanism and engaging the lever.

21. In a voting machine, the combination with independent votingmechanism, a paper feed roll and a shaft on which said roll is looselymounted, of a clutch member fixed to the paper feed roll, a sleeve keyedto the shaft and having longitudinal movement thereon, a clutch membercarried by said sleeve, a collar sliding on said sleeve and providedwith a lug, a buffer spring between said collar and the clutch member,an actuating bar and lever controlled by the independent votingmechanism and operating on said collar to place the clutch members inengagement and means operating on said lug to dis-. engage the clutchmembers. g

22. In a voting machine, the combination with sliding shutters, pawlspivoted thereto and links having racks engaged by the pawls, of ashutter closing-bar adapted to engage the pawls, rack bars by which theshutter closing-bar is carried, a shaft carrying pinions engaging theracks, a paper feed roll loosely mounted on said shaft, clutch mechanismintermediate said roll and shaft, and means actuated by the opening of ashutter for connecting the clutch members.

23. In a voting machine, the combination with sliding shutters, pawlspivoted thereto and links provided with hooks and having racks engagedby the pawls, of an actuating bar having inclines engaged by the hooks,a shutter closing-bar, rack bars by which the shutter closing-bar iscarried, a shaft carrying pinions engaging the racks, a paper feed rollloosely mounted on said shaft, clutch mechanism and connectionsintermediate the clutch mechanism and the actuating bar, the opening ofa shutter placing the clutch members in engagement and movement of theshaft carrying the paper feed roll and causing the shutter closing-barto engage the pawls of opened shutters and return said shutters to theclosed position.

24. In a voting machine, the combination with sliding shutters carryingpawls and links having racks engaged by the pawls and hooks, of ashutter closing bar adapted to engage the pawls and an actuating barengaged by the hooks.

25. In a voting machine, the combination with sliding shutters carryingpawls and links having racks engaged by the pawls and hooks, of ashutter closing-bar adapted to engage the pawls, an actuating barengaged by the hooks, a shaft 37 and connections for actuating theshutter closing-bar, a paper feed roll carried by said shaft, clutchmechanism and connecting mechanism intermediate the actuating bar andthe clutch mechanism.

26. In a voting machine, the combination with sliding shutters carryingpawls and links having racks engaged by the pawls and hooks, of ashutter closing-bar adapted to engage the pawls, an actuating barengaged by the hooks, a shaft 37 and connections for actuating theshutter closing-bar, a paper feed roll carried by said shaft, clutchmechanism intermediate the actuating bar and the clutch mechanism forconnecting the clutch members and means for disconnecting the clutchmembers.

27. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate havingvoting apertures and apertures 25, sliding shutters carrying pawls andlinks having racks engaged by the pawls and hooks projecting throughapertures 25, of a housing covering apertures 25- and an actuating barwithin the housing adapted to be engaged by the hooks.

28. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate havingvoting apertures at an angle to a vertical line, sliding shutterscarrying pawls and links having racks engaged by the pawls, of a shutterclosing-bar for disengaging the pawls of opened shutters from the racks.

29. In a voting machine, the combination with a front plate havingvoting apertures and sliding shutters carrying pawls, of links havingracks engaged by the pawls and bearings engaged by the shutters.

30. In a voting machine, the combination with sliding shutters and pawlspivoted thereto, of links having racks engaged by the pawls and bearingsengaged by the shutters.

31. In a voting machine, the combination with sliding shutters and pawlspivoted thereto, of links having racks engaged by the pawls and bearingsen aged by the shutters and interlocking mem ers attached to the links.

32. In a voting machine, the combination nth sliding shutters, pawlspivoted thereto and an actuating bar, of links having racks engaged bythe pawls and hooks on the links which are engaged by the shuttersand'engage the actuating bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES C. ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

GEO. O. B. HAWLEY, CHARLES H. PITNEY.

